Town of Otisfield
Planning Board Meeting Minutes
August 21, 2012
1. Call to Order: The regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM.
2. Attendance: Members present were, Chair- Dan Peaco, Vice Chair - David McVety, Recording Secretary - Karen Turino, Herb Olsen, Beth Damon, Alternate - Rick Jackson & Alternate - Stan Brett.
Richard St. John – Code Enforcement Officer
Tanya Taft – Secretary
Selectmen: Hal Ferguson & Rick Micklon
3. Announcement of Quorum: Board had a quorum
4. Approve Secretary’s Report:
A. Regular Meeting Minutes from August 7, 2012 *Motion to accept minutes. KT/HO – Unanimous.
B. Findings of Fact (F.O.F.) August 7, 2012. *Motion to accept minutes as amended. KT/DM – Unanimous. Discussion: TT will send amended F.O.F. document to the Attorney. All PB members agree.
5. Discussion & Comments from public:
A. Joe Brown: Submitted an artist rendition photo of the Cell Tower in relation to his home, but DP explained we are not taking any more submittals at this time. Copy of photo placed in file.
B. Sharon Matthews, Town Clerk: Stated she has been asked numerous times by people in this room about the Town getting high speed internet. She spoke to Harry Loring, Chief Engineer of FairPoint, and he explained to her that if the cell tower is to be erected on Scribner Hill Road FairPoint will be mandated by the Federal Government to make more lines available by installing fiber optic cable including high speed internet. ~
C. Kristen Roy: Thanked the Planning Board members for their thoroughness in the latest review of the Cell Tower. She wanted to point out a discrepancy in notifying abutters. She asked them to review section 7. 1 and then explained it could be section 7.I, where she noted there is a large discrepancy in abutters notified. PB members could not find what she was referring to. She then said it's in the Notification to the public section but could not locate it. PB members still not seeing what she was referring to, noted her concern about abutters being notified.
D. Linda Poto: Would like the board to consider the photo submitted by Joe Brown. DP reiterated that we are not taking any new submittals.
E. Jeff Jacobs: Wanted to thank the board for going through this long process. It’s important to the town and is much needed.
NOTE: Planning Board meeting to follow, after a 15 minute recess. Meeting resumed at 8:45 PM
6. Residence Based Business Applications:
A. Shane Thomas, Map RF, Lot 15: Proposed name of Business: SJTimusic. Web based musical instruments, accessories and gear sales. CEO reviewed. KT asked if there would be any direct sales from the home. CEO said all sales would be via internet. CEO has no issues. PB agreed
B. Stephen M. Marcotte, Map R08, Lot 50C: Proposed Name of Business: Official Truck Towing & Transport. Towing small cars and trucks and transporting goods w/ a small truck. (Under 15,000 GVWR). CEO reviewed and has no issues. DP: would like to know if there will be vehicles stored on the property. CEO: Applicant did not allude to any onsite storage, but CEO will request this information and report back to the board.
7. Shoreland Zoning Applications:
A. Joy & Peter Cutrone, Map U-01, Lot 15, Expansion of a non-conforming existing cottage on Saturday Pond. Their intent is to repair the existing building and to add a small extension to its footprint in conformance with the 1,000 sq. foot Shoreland Zoning limitation. They are also looking to add a well to the site, observing setbacks. CEO: I was invited to the property prior to them closing; the cottage is very close to the lake. It is within 75 feet, a boat house is 2 feet from the water. There is a garage in bad shape that they are voluntarily removing. Removing the garage will give applicant the sq. footage they are requesting. CEO verified the sq. footage and height. Tax card
lists a shed that CEO saw no evidence of. The shed was a 5 x 14 structure, but it fell down prior to the purchase of the property. As proposed, the total will be 998 feet combined sq. footage, the ordinance allows 1,000. All questions have been satisfied and the application is complete. They opted to leave a 100 year old hemlock in place with the guidance of Forester, Rene D. Noel, President of Southern Maine Forestry, who prepared the Revegetation Plan. SB: How far back is the septic tank from building? CEO: not sure. Septic replaced in 2007. It’s beyond the addition extension. Tank is 50 feet from the shore. Erosion control plan has been submitted w/ the application and the building will not go up more than the 3’ allowed. Cottage was built in 1950. For 911 purposes the town had to name road. The name of the driveway or private road will be called Hekawi Trail. SB: Not tearing anything down? CEO: what is labeled as a garage on the tax card is still standing, but not
in good shape, very dangerous. CEO suggests the PB place a condition that garage be removed during construction. DP: Does anyone want a site-walk or think we need one? PB members do not find a site-walk necessary. *Motion to accept application w/ the conditions that applicant removes the garage during construction prior to getting an occupancy permit and the garage area must be re-vegetated to the CEO’s satisfaction. HO/DM – Unanimous.
8. Site Plan Applications:
A. None.
9. Subdivision Application:
A. None.
10. Miscellaneous:
A. None.
11. Upcoming Dates:
A. Planning Board Meeting September 18, 2012 at 7:00 PM.
12. Discussion & comments from Code Enforcement Officer:
A. See section 6 A & B above:
B. Shoreland Zoning Application: There will be an application for a non-conforming structure in Heniger Park. Applicant will not be expanding the sq. footage, but does want to take his roof and replace it w/ two pop up dormers. New ordinance doesn’t account for volume it accounts for expansion of sq. footage. His lease is up in 2018. Board requested an interior inspection by CEO of actual 2nd floor space within any knee walls. Board agreed storage space beyond knee walls was not floor space. CEO to report back to the board.
13. Discussion & comments from Board:
A. Danny Peaco wanted to thank the BOS and CEO for standing behind the Planning Board during this trying time with the Cell Tower.
14. Pending Applications:
A. None.
15. Adjournment: With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:25 PM. HO/DM – Unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Tanya Taft
Recording Secretary
Approved by: Dan Peaco, Chair
Otisfield Planning Board
Approved on: September 18, 2012
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